FRAME ELEMENT

Abstract: This invention relates to frame elements (14) for use in making signs (10). The elements (14) are formed as an extrusion comprising a curved central body portion (16) and dependent flanges (17 and 18) to which respective sign boards (12 and 13) can be attached. The frame (11) is completed by corner pieces (15). A clamp bracket (23) may be provided to support the sign (10) on a post (27) and stiffeners (31) may be located between the boards (12, 13).

Description: Frame Element This invention relates to a frame element for a sign and signs incorporating such elements. Traditionally in the United Kingdom road signing has consisted of a single signboard mounted onto a post or posts. There is now a desire to provide an aesthetically more pleasing sign but many proposals have proved to be unduly expensive. From one aspect the invention relates to a frame element for a sign, comprising a central body for forming the edge of the sign and a pair of spaced independent flanges for locating respective boards on respective sides of the sign. Preferably the flanges are located inwardly of their respective edges of the element to define a respective seat for their respective board so that the boards can lie generally flush with their respective edge or lie within their respective edge. The body may be curved or otherwise shaped to achieve a desired aesthetic effect. The element is preferably hollow and can particularly conveniently be formed as an extrusion. The invention further includes a sign comprising a frame of the elements defined above and boards secured to the respective front and back sets of flanges. The corners of the frame may be mitred or they may be joined by separate corner pieces, which can conveniently be cast. T h e invention still further includes a bracket for supporting a sign comprising a flange, a projection extending generally orthogonally to the flange and defining a recess for receiving part of a post and a clamp element engageable on the projection to encircle the post therewith. Conveniently the bracket can be cast as a single piece and then cut to form the separate clamp element The flange may be provided with aperture or openings for receiving fastening members to allow it to be secured to a signboard, or it may be in the form of a spade connector for locating in an opening or hoop on the signboard. The invention further includes a sign as defined above mounted by a bracket as defined above. From a further aspect the invention consists in a sign including a frame, at least a pair of brackets mountable on the frame at opposed locations and defining slots or recesses for slidable receiving an advertising board so that it substantially overlies the reverse of the sign and means for releasably locking the board in the bracket. Although the invention has been defined above it is to be understood that it includes any inventive combination of the features for the above or in the following description. The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a front view of a sign; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the sign of Figure 1 along the line II-II; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section through the frame element of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bracket for use with the sign of Figure 1 duly mounted on a post; Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative sign mounted on a post; Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line V-V; Figure 7 is an enlarged side view of a corner piece of Figure 5; Figure 8 is an enlarged scrap exploded view of a clamp and an adjacent sign portion; Figure 9 is a section along the line VIII-VIII; Figure 10 is a front view of an alternative form of sign; Figure 11 is a rear view of a sign supported on side posts by alternative brackets; Figure 12 is a view from above of one form of the alternative bracket; and Figure 13 is a front view of a flag-type sign. A sign generally indicated at 10 comprises a frame 11 and a pair of boards 12,13. The frame 11 is made up from a number of frame elements 14 and interconnecting corner pieces 15. As can best be seen in Figure 3, each frame element 14 is formed as an extrusion comprising a curved central body portion 16 and dependent flanges 17,18. The flanges 17,18 are inset from the edges 19 of the body 16 so as to form respective seats 20,21 for receiving the boards 12 and 13. As shown in Figure 2 the boards are connected to respective sets of flanges 17 and 18 by fasteners 22. These can be rivets or screws, or indeed any appropriate fastening system can be used including adhesive and welding. The extruded flange elements 14 provide an economic and aesthetic frame and allow simple manufacture of signs. The frame elements 14 could be mitred at the corners but it is preferred that the corner pieces 15 are provided. These can conveniently be cast, for example from aluminium, and have projecting portions (15a in Figure 7) which locate in the hollow interior of the body 16. The sign may be mounted in any conventional manner but a particularly preferred system is indicated in Figure 4. Here a bracket generally indicated at 23 has a flange 24 from which extends a generally orthogonal projection 25, which in turn co-operates with a clamp element 26 to secure the bracket to a post 27. The clamp element 26 can be secured to the projection 25, by screws, one of which is indicated at 28. The bracket may be screwed to the signboard 13 through apertures 29 in the flange 24, or the flange 24 may act like a spade connector and locate in some recess opening or hoop formed or secured to the signboard 13. The bracket 23 can conveniently be cast as the single piece and then cut across to form the separate clamp element. For large signs more than one bracket may be used. Figures 5 to 9 show an alternative sign formation, with the following additional features: (i) The frame elements 14 are provided with a strengthening web 30. (ii) Stiffeners 31 in the form of I members are provided between boards or sheets 12 and 13 adjacent brackets 23 to provide greater rigidity and firm clamping of the brackets 23. With this arrangement the sign 10 may be assembled as follows: a) attach brackets 23 to the back board 13 with suitable screws and nuts. b) secure the front board 12 to the stiffeners 31, for example, using blind hole rivets. c) attach frame elements 14 to the front board 12 using bolts and nuts. d) attach the back board 13 to the stiffeners 31 and frame elements 14 using self-tapping screws e) clamping the brackets 23 to post 27. In an un-illustrated version the stiffeners can be supplemented or replaced by mounting at least two brackets 23 on a common bore member. The types of fasteners used are given purely by way of example and the invention may include this method of assembly. Figures 10 to 11 show some further alternative constructions and alternative features. Thus in Figure 10 the side frame elements 14 are extended to form posts 29 and in that case may be of heavy gauge or have an internal strengthening element. Cover strips 30 may be provided to close the openings. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate how a sign 10 can be suspended on side posts 31 by means of clamping brackets 32. As can be seen in Figure 12 the rear element 33 of the brackets 32 may define a slots 34 which can releasably receive an advertising board 35 so that it overlies the rear 36 of the sign 10. Advertising boards 35 could similarly be added to any of the other sign constructions. Figure 13 illustrates how a flag sign can be formed using a post mounting T socket 37.

Claims: Claims 1. A frame element for a sign comprising a central body for forming the edge of the sign and a pair of spaced dependent flanges for locating respective boards or respective sides of the sign. 2. An element as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the flanges are located inwardly of their respective edges of the element to define respective seat for the respective boards so that they can lie generally flush with the respective edge or within it. 3. An element as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the body is curved. 4. An element as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the element is hollow. 5. An element as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the element is an extrusion. 6. A sign comprising a frame of elements as defined in any one of the preceding Claims and boards secured to the respective front and back sets of flanges. 7. A sign as claimed in Claim 6, including separate corner pieces. 8. A sign as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein at least one element forms a post. 9. A bracket for supporting a sign comprising a flange, a projection extending generally orthogonally to the flange and defining a recess for receiving part of a post and a clamp element engageable on the projection to encircle the post therewith. 10. A bracket assembly including at least two brackets as claimed in Claim 8, mounted on a common base. 11. A sign as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, supported by a bracket as claimed in Claim 9, or a bracket assembly as claimed in Claim 10. 12. A sign including a frame, at least a pair of brackets mountable on the frame at opposed locations and defining slots or recesses for slidable receiving an advertising board so that it substantially overlies the reverse of the sign and means for releasably locking the board in the bracket. 13. A sign as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the brackets are configured to mount the sign on a post or posts.

Inventors: ARCHER TIMOTHY MARK, FREEMAN KEN, ARCHER, TIMOTHY, MARK, FREEMAN, KEN
Applicants: ARCHER TIMOTHY MARK, BRIBEX LTD, FREEMAN KEN, ARCHER, TIMOTHY, MARK, BRIBEX LIMITED, FREEMAN, KEN
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G09F7
IPC codes: G09F7, G09F15